More and more apparel brands are sourcing 100 per cent sustainable cotton. Sustainable sources of cotton include organic, BCI cotton, Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) and Fairtrade, among a number of other niche initiatives. At present, 19 per cent of the world’s cotton is sustainable. By 2025, more than 50 per cent of the world’s cotton is expected to be converted to more sustainable growing methods.

There is growing recognition of the enormous social and environmental impact of the global fashion industry. By working collaboratively the sector hopes to scale rapidly solutions that are good for farmers, the environment and consumers alike. The tide is turning on traditional supply chains, with demands for greater transparency generating a change from transactional relationships to transformational partnerships.

But for sustainable cotton to become standard business practice, the amount of sustainable cotton grown and bought must increase significantly. There is real demand for a more sustainable approach to cotton production that reduces the environmental and social costs.

Greater transparency across the supply chain and stronger, more strategic relationships between supply chain partners will be critical to the much needed widespread adoption of sustainable farming practices around the world.